Google is working on a new version of its Chrome web browser that completely overhauls the user interface. The change is expected to arrive with version 58, and it uses new elements part of Material Design Refresh (a.k.a Material Design 2) to updates the look and feel of the browser for all platforms, including for Windows 10, Android, and Mac.
In this new interface, you’ll notice that Chrome is using more curves in the elements, such as in tabs and address bar. The light-grey color scheme is gone in favor of a white color.
The user profile sign-in button now appears next to the main menu button, and the new tab button has been relocated to the far-left side. You’ll also find a new bookmark experience, new visual effects, and a number of other minor tweaks.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable the early preview of the upcoming Chrome interface refresh on Windows 10 or Mac.
How to preview Chrome’s new Material Design Refresh UI
You can test the upcoming version of chrome using these steps:
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Download and install the Canary version of Chrome.
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Type the following in the address bar and press Enter:
chrome://flags/
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Under “UI Layout for the browser’s top chrome,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Refresh option.
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Under “Material Design in the rest of the browser’s native UI,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
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Under “New style notification,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
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Under “Enable Material Design bookmarks,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
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Under “Enable Material Design extensions,” use the drop-down menu, and select the Enabled option.
Chrome 68 flags settings to enable new UI
After completing the steps, click the Restart now button to start using the new interface.
It’s worth pointing out that you only need to enable the “UI Layout for the browser’s top chrome” option, but if you want to try the new experience fully, Neowin explains that you also need to enable the rest of the options described in the above instructions.
What are your thought about the new interface? Tell us in the comments.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].